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Abstract:

A volume displacement device for heating liquid foodstuff, the volume
displacement device including: (a) a body having a volume and a surface
area; and (b) a boiling surface on the surface of the body.

Claims:

1. A volume displacement device: a) a body having a volume and a surface
area; and b) a boiling surface on the surface of the body.

2. The volume displacement device of claim 1 wherein the body is shaped
from the shapes selected from the group consisting of: cylindrical,
spherical, egg-shaped, cubical, and the like.

3. The volume displacement device of claim 1 wherein the boiling surface
is on the relative bottom side of the body.

4. The volume displacement device of claim 1 wherein the boiling surface
is from about 1% to about 100% of the surface area of the body.

5. The volume displacement device of claim 4 wherein the boiling surface
is from about 25% to about 50% of the surface area of the body.

8. The volume displacement device of claim 7 wherein the low density
volume area is biased towards the relative top of the body of the volume
displacement device.

9. The volume displacement device of claim 8 wherein the low density
volume area is a hollow volume.

10. The volume displacement device of claim 1 wherein the volume
displacement device is made of a material that does not absorb a
relatively high level of microwave energy.

11. The volume displacement device of claim 1 wherein the volume
displacement device is made of a material selected from the group
consisting of: glass, plastic, ceramic, the like and combinations
thereof.

12. A method for heating a liquid foodstuff, the method comprising the
steps of: a. providing a vessel; b. partially filling the vessel with
liquid foodstuff; c. placing a volume displacement device in the vessel;
and d. microwaving the filled vessel.

13. The method according to claim 13 wherein: c. the volume displacement
device is placed in the relative center of the vessel.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein: c. the volume displacement
device is placed in the relative center of the vessel, providing a
relatively toroidal form to the liquid foodstuff.

15. A volume displacement device: a) a body having a volume and a surface
area; b) a boiling surface on the surface of the body; and c) one or more
wings extending outwardly from the surface of the body.

16. The volume displacement device according to claim 15 wherein there
are from about 4 to about 6 wings.

17. The volume displacement device according to claim 15 wherein the one
or more wings are equally spaced about the bottom portion of the body.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

[0003] Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Our invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving the
heating of liquid food products. In particular, our invention relates to
a method and apparatus for providing the rapid heating of liquid food
products, such as soups or stews, in such a way that is easy to use,
non-chemical, and universally compatible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Saving food for later consumption is a common practice. It is not
uncommon for a user to put a liquid comestible, such as soup, into a bowl
and then into the user's microwave oven to reheat. Unfortunately, due to
the `mass` that is formed by a bowl of liquid and due to the fact that
microwave ovens tend to operate by having molecules with a strong dipole
(such as water) absorb the microwave energy, there is an uneven heating
profile in the radial direction of the liquid as it sits in a bowl. As a
result, users typically over-heat their soup in order to provide adequate
heat to all areas and, as a result, such over-heating will often cause
the soup to have dehydrated or otherwise overcooked residue of soup
material near the edges of the bowl and a relatively cool center of the
bowl.

[0006] Thus, there is a need for an apparatus or method for improving the
heating of liquid foodstuffs in a microwave oven in such a way that there
is relatively even heating throughout the foodstuff.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In a first nonlimiting embodiment, the present invention is
directed to a volume displacement device for heating liquid foodstuff,
the volume displacement device including: (a) a body having a volume and
a surface area; and (b) a boiling surface on the surface of the body.

[0008] In a second nonlimiting embodiment, the present invention is
directed to a method for heating a liquid foodstuff, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) providing a vessel; (b) partially filling
the vessel with liquid foodstuff; (c) placing a volume displacement
device in the vessel; and (d) microwaving the filled vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing
out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as
forming the present invention, it is believed that the invention will be
better understood from the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a nonlimiting embodiment of a
volume displacement device.

[0011]FIG. 2 provides a cross sectional view of the device of FIG. 1
taken along line 2-2.

[0012] FIG. 3(a) provides a perspective view of a nonlimiting embodiment
of a device.

[0013] FIG. 3(b) provides a perspective view of a nonlimiting embodiment
of a device.

[0014] FIG. 3(c) provides a perspective view of a nonlimiting embodiment
of a device.

[0015]FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of a nonlimiting embodiment of a
device.

[0016]FIG. 5 provides a front view of a nonlimiting embodiment of a
device as it may be used in a microwave oven.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] One of skill in the art will appreciate that many, if not all,
commercially available a microwave ovens work by passing non-ionizing
microwave radiation through food or whichever material or substance is in
the microwave. Water, fat, and other substances in the food absorb energy
from the microwaves in a process called dielectric heating. Materials
without an electric dipole will not absorb the microwave energy.
Additionally, contrary to common misperception, microwave ovens do not
literally heat a material from the inside out (i.e., from the center of
the entire mass of food outwards) and microwave heating, like
conventional heating in an oven, works by applying energy to the outer
layers of the mass of food first.

Defrosting Unit

[0018] In some embodiments the invention is a device that displaces the
center volume of a liquid, gel, or fluid product in a container. Based on
the physics of microwave heating as described herein, by removing a
central area to receive microwave energy (i.e., providing the liquid
product in a toroidal geometry rather than a semispherical, or
bowl-shaped, geometry) there will be an improvement in energy
distribution throughout the liquid product.

[0019]FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of a volume displacement device
100 according to a nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention. The
volume displacement device 100 comprises a base 110 and an optional
handle 120. In an embodiment the displacement device is made from a
material selected from the group consisting of: glass, plastic, ceramic,
the like and combinations thereof. One of skill in the art will
appreciate that while any solid material may be used to construct such a
device, it is preferred that the material be food-safe, or otherwise
approved by or within component limits allowed by any regulatory body,
material and that may be used with a microwave (i.e., no material such as
metal which will arc in the microwave.) In a nonlimiting embodiment the
volume displacement device 100 is made from a material that is a thermal
insulator and/or has a relatively low coefficient of conduction and/or
relatively low mass and/or relatively low density. In some embodiments
the optional handle may be made of the same material that the volume
displacement device is made from. The optional handle 120 may be
continuous with the body 110. In other embodiments the optional handle
may be a distinct part from the body 110. In particular embodiments the
handle further comprises a hole 123 which may help the user pick up the
device 100.

[0020] In the embodiment shown, the body of the volume displacement device
100 unit may be tear-shaped. In other embodiments, the body of the volume
displacement device may have a shape selected from the group consisting
of: cylindrical, spherical, egg-shaped, cubical, and the like. By
providing a body 110 with a bottom portion that is substantially
spherical (ex., the body 110 is tear shaped, spherical, or the like), as
shown in the nonlimiting embodiment, a shape that coordinates many
commonly available bowls or storage vessels. It is hypothesized that a
volume displacement device having the shape of a square or rectangular
cylinder may be appropriate for commonly available reusable containers,
such as those available from the Ziploc® Brand Versaglass® (S.C.
Johnson & Son, Inc., Racine, Wis.) wherein the container has a
substantially rectangular or square shaped base.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the volume displacement device
100 of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2. In the embodiment shown the body 110
of the volume displacement device 100 further comprises a low density
volume area 130. In some embodiments the low density volume area 130 is a
hollow void in the body 110. It is thought that by providing a volume 130
within the body 110 wherein the volume 130 has a relatively lower density
than the body 110, the volume displacement device 100 may remain in a
relatively upright position during use thus making it relatively easy for
the user to remove after use as by maintaining the device 100 in an
upright position due to the buoyant effect that the lower density area
will have on the device 100 as a whole, there will be a "clean" area of
the device 100 to hold for removal.

[0022] In particular embodiments of the present invention, the low density
volume area 130 may be biased or otherwise positioned towards the
relative top of the body 110 of the volume displacement device 100. In
specific embodiments, the low density volume area 130 may be positioned
relatively closer to a handle 120. In other embodiments, the low density
volume area 130 is evenly proportioned with three dimensional shape of
the volume displacement device 100.

[0023] In particular other embodiments the invention the volume of the low
density volume area 130 is from about 50% to about 95% of the total
volume of the device 100. In another embodiment the volume of the low
density volume area 130 is from about 60% to about 80% of the total
volume of the device 100. In yet another embodiment the volume of the low
density volume area 130 is from about 65% to about 75% of the total
volume of the device 100. The precise ratio of low density volume area
130 to body 110 is dependent on the particular materials used for the
device 100. In one embodiment the volume fraction of the body
PCTbody multiplied by the density of the material used in the body
Dbody less the volume fraction of the low density volume area
PCTl.d.a. multiplied by the density of the of the low density volume
area Dl.d.a provides the relative floatability ("Float") of the
device in water.

(PCTbody×Dbody)-PCTl.d.a.×Dl.d.a.)=Float
Eq. 1

[0024] In one embodiment the Float of a device is less than 1.0. In
another embodiment, the Float of a device is from about 0.6 to 1.0. In
yet another embodiment, the Float of a device is from about 0.75 to about
1.0.

[0025] In certain embodiments the low density volume area may not have any
solid material therein, or may be otherwise "hollow." However, one of
skill in the art will appreciate that an enclosed space should not lead
to a high pressure gradient between the "hollow" low density volume area
and the atmosphere outside of the device.

[0026] In a particular embodiment the body 110 of the volume displacement
device 100 may have a density that is from about 0.5 g/cm3 to about
2.6 g/cm3.

[0027] In a different embodiment the volume displacement device 100 may
have a density that is from about 0.8 g/cm3 to about 0.95
g/cm3.

[0028] FIG. 3(a) provides a perspective view of another nonlimiting
embodiment of a volume displacement device 100 wherein the device further
comprises one or more wings 200 extending from the body 110. The device
100 of FIG. 3 may be understood as being relative to a Cartesian
coordinate system wherein the system consists of X, Y, and Z axes wherein
the X and Y axes are at a right angle forming a plane and the Z axis is
perpendicular thereto. In the embodiment shown the body 110 of the device
100 may be substantially symmetrical about its Z-axis through the center
of the device 100. One or more wings 200 may extend outwardly from the
relative bottom portion of the body 110 of the device 100. In an
embodiment the wings 200 may be spaced at regular, even intervals around
the bottom part of the body 110. In another embodiment there may be any
number of wings, although in particular embodiments there are from about
4 wings to about 6 wings evenly spaced about the bottom part of the body
110.

[0029] FIG. 3(b) provides a perspective view of an alternative nonlimiting
embodiment of a volume displacement device 100 having one or more wings
200. Each wing 200 may have a topside 207 and an underside 203. The wings
may be provided such that there is an angle θ between the topside
207 of a wing 200 relative to a wing that is parallel with the Z-axis is
from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. In another embodiment, the
angle θ is from about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees. In another
embodiment still, the angle θ is from about 30 degrees to about 45
degrees.

[0030] FIG. 3(c) provides a perspective view of yet another nonlimiting
embodiment of a volume displacement device 100 having one or more wings
200. In this embodiment the thickness of the wing TW is variable
from the topside of the wing 202 to the bottomside of the wing 209. In a
particular embodiment (not shown), the face of a wing may be shaped as
convex or concave to promote rotational movement of the device 100 in the
liquid as bubbles form in the liquid as heating occurs. In the embodiment
shown the angle θ between the topside 207 of the wing 200 relative
to a wing that is parallel with the Z-axis is different from the angle
Ω between the underside 203 of the wing 200 relative to a wing that
is coplanar with the X-Y plane is from about 30 degrees to about 60
degrees. In another embodiment, the angle Ω is from about 40
degrees to about 60 degrees. In another embodiment still, the angle
Ω is from about 45 degrees to about 60 degrees.

[0031] It is thought that providing wings 200 to the device 100 will
provide rotational movement of the device 100 in the liquid as bubbles
form in the liquid due to heating. Such movement may provide mixing to
the liquid as heating occurs. Additionally, such movement may provide a
strong visual cue to users that the device is working.

[0032]FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a volume displacement
device 100 wherein the bottom portion of the body 110 of the volume
displacement device 100 is relatively roughened or otherwise provided
with some sort of relatively rough texture to provide a boiling area 117.
The boiling area 117 is provided to expedite the boiling or rapid heating
of a liquid foodstuff because the textured or roughened surface may
provide nucleation sites to a liquid. In the embodiment shown the device
100 comprises a handle 120 which is optional. The roughness may be
applied to anywhere from about 1% to 100% of the surface of the body 110
of the device 100. In a different embodiment the roughness may be applied
to anywhere from about from about 25% to about 50% of the surface of the
body 110 of the device 100. In a nonlimiting embodiment the roughness may
be applied by a fine grit sand blast to the surface of the body 110 of
the device 100.

[0033]FIG. 5 shows an exemplary nonlimiting embodiment of a volume
displacement device 100 as it may be used in a bowl of liquid foodstuff,
such as soup. In the embodiment shown, a user may provide a bowl 1100, or
other suitable holding vessel, and then provide a liquid foodstuff 1200
into the bowl 1100 or vessel such that the bowl 1100 is at least
partially filled. The volume displacement device 100 may then be placed
in the relative center of the bowl 1100, thus displacing the central
volume of the liquid foodstuff with a material that will not absorb (or
will absorb a relatively small amount of) microwave energy. The user may
then heat the liquid foodstuff 1200 in a microwave (not shown) or
otherwise microwave the filled vessel. After the liquid foodstuff 1200 is
done in the microwave, the user may remove the device 100 and enjoy the
uniformly heated liquid foodstuff 1200.

[0034] The exemplary embodiments herein disclosed are not intended to be
exhaustive or to unnecessarily limit the scope of the invention. The
exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the
principles of the present invention so that others skilled in the art may
practice the invention. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art,
various modifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid
description. Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled
in the art form a part of the present invention.